SIStem Monitor (The)

THE SIStem MONITOR
An informational newsletter about SIS-Plus ... IPFW's NEW Student Information System
Volume 1 Number 6 June/July, 1995
“TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON ...”
Nearly all 1995 Spring semester transactions have now been concluded marking the end of business on our "old" student information system. While 1994 Fall and 1995 Spring student data will remain available on our "old" system for the time being, it's SIS+ from here on! However, (at the risk of putting a damper on the spontaneous campus-wide celebrations) we want to remind you that the implementation of SIS+ is an ongoing process and is still in its early stages. Much remains to be done.
IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
Student Records
Registration Processing. SIS+ has taken its first baby steps! Early Registration I for Terms 955, 957, and 958; Early Registration II for Term 958; and Final and Late Registration for Term 955 have concluded and--as expected--have proven to be a major learning experience for all participants. Overall responses have been extremely positive. A special “THANKS!" goes to those users in our schools, divisions, and departments who made it work for the students. A number of issues were reported to our office during the above registration periods (our staff responded to approximately 250 phone inquiries from end-users). For the most part, these related to new procedures, system access problems (redirected to and admirably handled by C&DP staff), and minor SIS+ changes which had occurred after earlier user training sessions. The majority of these concerns were resolved over the phone and all but a few within a day of their being reported. As expected, reported problems dropped significantly as user experience with SIS+ increased. End-User Training. Over the past three months, "hands-on" SIS+ training has been provided to over 175 end-users. As requests for additional training become evident, one or two more sessions may be scheduled over the summer. Beginning with the 1995 Fall semester, training sessions will be scheduled on a monthly basis to accommodate both new users and those who may not have been able to attend earlier sessions. As usual, the Registrar's office staff are ready to assist with registration and drop/add processing and data inquiry problems. Users who experience system access, hardware, and related problems should continue to contact the C&DP HelpDesk. On the Horizon: Over the summer months, a majority of SIS+ effort will be focused on "catching-up" on and enhancing system output (e.g., printed & on-line reports, student information transmitted to Bloomington and West Lafayette, etc.). Attention is now focused on Summer I grade collection/processing and graduation ... and class scheduling for the 196 Term has already begun. - Norm Greenberg, Associate Registrar
Financial Aid
Production changes required to accommodate SIS+ resulted in delays in producing 1995 Fall financial aid notifications and getting them out to students by the planned date. Affected students will be notified of this delay by mail and advised of the procedures they are to follow to avoid cancellation of their Fall classes. - Gary Davis, Associate Director, Financial Aid
Admissions
Admissions has begun the development of automated recruiting and acceptance letters. Once in production, these letters will be "batch" printed each night and mailed the following day. - C.C. Fullove, Assistant Director, Admissions
Billing & Receivables
Summer has been a good "shakedown" time for the Billing/Receivables (Bursar) system of SIS+. Students are gradually getting used to the new billing format and they are taking advantage of the payment-by-phone and -mail options provided by SIS+. Transactions at the window even take less time because cashiers have on-line access to all the student's data. Problems with the system's ability to calculate fee refunds have now been fixed by the vendor. However, there is still some confusion arising from having student account balances concurrently active in multiple terms (e.g., a student can be registered in Summer I, Summer II and Fall all at the same time). This is further complicated by recent federal regulations which limit financial aid awards to the student's current term. Fall financial aid disbursement should take much less effort and time, resulting in shorter lines and less time spent waiting for students. We also have electronic funds transfer (EFT) ready for Fall Stafford loans, which will save staff time in the Bursar and Financial Aid offices and get loan funds to students faster. - Mark Franke, Assistant Comptroller
Computing and Data Processing Services
Over the next several months, C&DPS will introduce an improved "connection" between office PC's and SIS+ (as well as other important mainframe software). This is an essential part of the preparations for the upcoming replacement of our old mainframe computer. The new software is called LAN WorkPlace (or LanWP) and it will work equally well with both DOS and Windows workstations. Although it will look just a bit different and require a few different keystrokes to operate, LanWP will function much the same as the existing SNA product. Of course, documentation and training will be provided and questions about using LanWP can be directed to the C&DPS HelpDesk (X6030). - Mary Schoeler, C&DP

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THE SIStem MONITOR
An informational newsletter about SIS-Plus ... IPFW's NEW Student Information System
Volume 1 Number 6 June/July, 1995
“TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON ...”
Nearly all 1995 Spring semester transactions have now been concluded marking the end of business on our "old" student information system. While 1994 Fall and 1995 Spring student data will remain available on our "old" system for the time being, it's SIS+ from here on! However, (at the risk of putting a damper on the spontaneous campus-wide celebrations) we want to remind you that the implementation of SIS+ is an ongoing process and is still in its early stages. Much remains to be done.
IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
Student Records
Registration Processing. SIS+ has taken its first baby steps! Early Registration I for Terms 955, 957, and 958; Early Registration II for Term 958; and Final and Late Registration for Term 955 have concluded and--as expected--have proven to be a major learning experience for all participants. Overall responses have been extremely positive. A special “THANKS!" goes to those users in our schools, divisions, and departments who made it work for the students. A number of issues were reported to our office during the above registration periods (our staff responded to approximately 250 phone inquiries from end-users). For the most part, these related to new procedures, system access problems (redirected to and admirably handled by C&DP staff), and minor SIS+ changes which had occurred after earlier user training sessions. The majority of these concerns were resolved over the phone and all but a few within a day of their being reported. As expected, reported problems dropped significantly as user experience with SIS+ increased. End-User Training. Over the past three months, "hands-on" SIS+ training has been provided to over 175 end-users. As requests for additional training become evident, one or two more sessions may be scheduled over the summer. Beginning with the 1995 Fall semester, training sessions will be scheduled on a monthly basis to accommodate both new users and those who may not have been able to attend earlier sessions. As usual, the Registrar's office staff are ready to assist with registration and drop/add processing and data inquiry problems. Users who experience system access, hardware, and related problems should continue to contact the C&DP HelpDesk. On the Horizon: Over the summer months, a majority of SIS+ effort will be focused on "catching-up" on and enhancing system output (e.g., printed & on-line reports, student information transmitted to Bloomington and West Lafayette, etc.). Attention is now focused on Summer I grade collection/processing and graduation ... and class scheduling for the 196 Term has already begun. - Norm Greenberg, Associate Registrar
Financial Aid
Production changes required to accommodate SIS+ resulted in delays in producing 1995 Fall financial aid notifications and getting them out to students by the planned date. Affected students will be notified of this delay by mail and advised of the procedures they are to follow to avoid cancellation of their Fall classes. - Gary Davis, Associate Director, Financial Aid
Admissions
Admissions has begun the development of automated recruiting and acceptance letters. Once in production, these letters will be "batch" printed each night and mailed the following day. - C.C. Fullove, Assistant Director, Admissions
Billing & Receivables
Summer has been a good "shakedown" time for the Billing/Receivables (Bursar) system of SIS+. Students are gradually getting used to the new billing format and they are taking advantage of the payment-by-phone and -mail options provided by SIS+. Transactions at the window even take less time because cashiers have on-line access to all the student's data. Problems with the system's ability to calculate fee refunds have now been fixed by the vendor. However, there is still some confusion arising from having student account balances concurrently active in multiple terms (e.g., a student can be registered in Summer I, Summer II and Fall all at the same time). This is further complicated by recent federal regulations which limit financial aid awards to the student's current term. Fall financial aid disbursement should take much less effort and time, resulting in shorter lines and less time spent waiting for students. We also have electronic funds transfer (EFT) ready for Fall Stafford loans, which will save staff time in the Bursar and Financial Aid offices and get loan funds to students faster. - Mark Franke, Assistant Comptroller
Computing and Data Processing Services
Over the next several months, C&DPS will introduce an improved "connection" between office PC's and SIS+ (as well as other important mainframe software). This is an essential part of the preparations for the upcoming replacement of our old mainframe computer. The new software is called LAN WorkPlace (or LanWP) and it will work equally well with both DOS and Windows workstations. Although it will look just a bit different and require a few different keystrokes to operate, LanWP will function much the same as the existing SNA product. Of course, documentation and training will be provided and questions about using LanWP can be directed to the C&DPS HelpDesk (X6030). - Mary Schoeler, C&DP